Encapsulated wire shelf

ABSTRACT

The shelf as defined by a shelf grating formed of a plurality of first and second groups of wires disposed normal to each other and having ends thereof encapsulated by an injection molded, continuous open encapsulation, rim or border. Preferably, each of four border portions of the border each encapsulate substantially the entirety of one of the wires of the two groups to afford rigidity to the wire shelf. The border includes a Class “A” upper surface between peripheral outboard and inboard parting lines or lines of flash which provides a high degree of aesthetics to the shelf when viewed from above.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Adjustable shelves are commonly associated with both the freezercompartment and the fresh food compartment of conventionalrefrigerators. When the shelves are constructed as sliding shelves,opposite generally parallel sides of the shelves rest upon and sliderelative to horizontally aligned ribs or grooves formed in opposingpairs in side walls or inner liners of the compartments. Other suchshelves slide relative to shelf brackets which have hooks hooked intoslots of vertical tracks mounted in the refrigerator compartments.Typical sliding shelves are exemplified by the disclosures of U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,422,673 B1 and 5,362,145 issued respectively on Jul. 23, 2002 andNov. 8, 1994. In each case the shelves in their most simplisticconstruction are defined by a piece of tempered glass bordered by a rimor border which is either snap-secured or injection molded to thetempered glass.

[0002] It is also conventional to utilize vertically adjustable shelvesin refrigerators which, instead of a tempered glass panel, utilize asupporting surface defined by crossing wires. Wire shelves typical ofthe latter construction are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,302 grantedon Apr. 2, 1991. Two groups of wires are normal to each other and arewelded or otherwise secured to cantilevered brackets which can bevertically adjusted within compartments of a refrigerator.

[0003] Other conventional shelves are injected molded as a single pieceof material, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,246, and have a hookfor cantilevered support from a slat wall typically used in stores andsupermarkets. Hollow ribs reduce the weight of the shelf while providingrequisite rigidity for supporting articles/products thereupon.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,371 granted on May 27, 1969 describes themanufacture of “wire racks” by “laying many wires across two edgemembers and then welding the wires to the edge members. The exposed cutends of the wires must be finished to eliminate the dangerous sharpedge. After the finishing operation, some racks are dipped in plasticfor decorative and protective purposes, while others are protected bychrome plating.” The disadvantages of such racks include the cut endswhich create dangerous sharp edges and welding which is “an expensivestep in the manufacture of present racks.” This patent avoids the latterdisadvantages by encasing each wire in a plastic coating, inserting theends of each wire through slots into a metal shell and filling theshells with a plastic filling which fills the shells and forms ahomogeneous bond with the plastic coated wires. Alternatively, the sideshells are not utilized but instead plastic coated wires are placed atopopposite parallel metal bars and the latter are encapsulated by plasticintroduced into molds which cures and is bonded to the plastic of thewires.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, a “wire” shelf isconstructed in a manner which avoids all of the disadvantages set forthin the latter patents, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture ascompared to known shelves, and possesses an aesthetic appearanceheretofore unprovided in wire shelves, be they sliding, stationaryand/or adjustable.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, a wire shelf ismanufactured by first forming a shelf “grate” from first and secondmembers or wires disposed substantially normal to each other. Theplurality of wires are welded to each other to form a dimensionallystable shelf “grate” with the ends of the wires being precisely locatedand relatively spaced from each other to enable the performance of asubsequent injection molding operation initiated by locating the ends ofthe wires in grooves of a movable Class “A” mold half of a two-pieceinjection mold which defines a mold cavity in conjunction with astationary or fixed mold half. The Class “A” finish of the movable moldhalf, including the precisely dimensioned and relatively located groovesthereof which receive ends of the wires, provides precise location ofthe shelf grate during an injection molding operation and imparts aClass “A” finish to the surface of an encapsulation, rim or borderformed by the injection molded polymeric/copolymeric material. Each ofthe grooves of the movable Class “A” mold half is also less than 180°and is opposed by a silicone seal carried by the fixed mold half. Thelatter allows the ends of the wires of the shelf grate to be readilyinserted into the wire end receiving grooves of the movable mold, yetwhen the molds are closed, the silicone seal is compressed andsubstantially entirely embraces diametrically opposite surface portionsof each wire adjacent the parting line of the mold to preclude or reduce“flash” of the polymeric/copolymeric material upon the injection thereofto thereby further enhance the aesthetics of the wire shelf. Byencapsulating substantially all of the ends of all of the wires, asubstantially rectangular or polymeric open border is created whoseupper surface, formed by the Class “A” surface of the movable metal moldhalf, is normally visible from above when installed in a refrigeratorcompartment and thus presents an aesthetic surface to an observer/user.Obviously, the less aesthetic lower surface of the border is notobservable to a viewer. In this fashion an aesthetic, relativelyinexpensive, substantially rigid and virtually indestructible wire shelfis readily available for utilization in refrigerators, microwave ovens,point of sale displays, etc.

[0007] In further accordance with the present invention, at least fourof the wires or wire members, those defining opposite parallel sideedges and opposite parallel front and rear edges of the border aresubstantially totally encapsulated by the injection moldedpolymeric/copolymeric material of the border which adds further rigidityto the overall wire shelf.

[0008] In further accordance with the present invention, the slidablewire shelf can be constructed to slide along cantilevered shelf bracketswhich are in turn hooked to slotted vertical tracks in a refrigeratorcompartment, as opposed to sliding along ribs or grooves in the innerliner of the refrigerator compartment. In the latter embodiment of theinvention, none of the ends of any of the wire members project beyondthe border of the wire shelf, whereas encapsulated ends of selectivewires can project beyond side border portions of shelves which slidealong ridges/ribs or in grooves of refrigerator compartment innerliners.

[0009] In further accordance with this invention, the encapsulation ofthe ends of the grate during the injection molding process can also beutilized to encapsulate simultaneously therewith upper flanges ofcantilevered shelf brackets made of sheet material or wires having hooksat rear ends thereof for receipt in slots of vertical shelf tracks in arefrigerator compartment.

[0010] With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafterappear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood byreference to the following detailed description, the appended claims andthe several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a refrigeratorcompartment, and illustrates a sliding “wire” shelf of the inventiondefined by a wire shelf grate encapsulated by an open peripheral borderof injection molded synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic materialslidable upon opposing horizontally aligned ribs/ledges of therefrigerator compartment.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally alongline 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrates the encapsulation of several of thewire members in border portions of the border of the wire shelf.

[0013]FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takengenerally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and illustrates two of the crossingwires at least partially embedded within a front border portion of theborder.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally alongline 4-4 of FIG. 1, and illustrates a plastic encapsulated end of one ofthe wire members projecting beyond an associated side border portion insliding relationship with one of the ribs.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of another wire shelf ofthe invention, and illustrates the shelf grate and two metal shelfbrackets having hooked ends unitized by an injection molded border ofpolymeric/copolymeric plastic material.

[0016]FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally alongline 6-6 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6a is a variation thereof, and eachillustrates a side border portion of the wire shelf unitizing the shelfgrate to a flange of one of the shelf brackets in respective spaced andcontacting relationship therewith.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of another wire shelfconstructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates the shelfmounted for sliding movement relative to a pair of cantilevered sheetmetal shelf brackets.

[0018]FIG. 8 is a enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takengenerally along line 8-8 of FIG. 7, and illustrates the slidingrelationship between a side border portion of the wire shelf border andone of the cantilevered brackets.

[0019]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of another wire shelfconstructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a pair ofcantilevered wire shelf brackets in which two of the wires thereofproject rearwardly from a rear border portion and define hooks forsecuring the wire shelf into slots of a vertical track of therefrigerator compartment.

[0020]FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally alongline 10-10 of FIG. 9, and illustrates the side border portion of thewire shelf border unitizing the shelf grate with wires defining thecantilevered wire shelf bracket.

[0021]FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through atwo-part metal injection mold in the open position thereof, andillustrates wires of the shelf grate seated in grooves of a movableClass “A” mold half and silicone seals carried by the fixed orstationary mold half.

[0022]FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the injection moldof FIG. 11, and illustrates the mold in its closed position withportions of the wire members being encapsulated by front and rear borderportions of the injection molded open border.

[0023]FIG. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken generally along line13-13 of FIG. 11, and illustrates details of the stationary mold halfincluding a corner cavity portion for encapsulating several wire endsincluding an end of one of the wire members outboard of a border sideportion.

[0024]FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 14-14 of FIG. 12, and illustrates several of the wires of theshelf grate located between the grooves of the respective movable andfixed mold halves.

[0025]FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear borderportion of the wire shelf, and illustrates details of the wire membersrelative thereto.

[0026]FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takengenerally along line 16-16 of FIG. 15, and illustrates the horizontalplanar spaced relationship between a plane through the axes of uppermostwire members and a parting plane defined by a plane through commonsurfaces between adjacent wire-receiving grooves of the movable moldhalf.

[0027]FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 17-17of FIG. 16, and illustrates a parting line lying in a plane above aplane taken through the axes of the upper wire members.

[0028]FIG. 18 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken generally along line18-18 of FIG. 11, and illustrates details of the stationary mold halfincluding a corner cavity portion and grooves for receiving andaccurately locating wire ends prior to mold closure.

[0029]FIG. 19 is a highly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional viewtaken generally along line 19-19 of FIG. 1, and illustrates a wire endof the shelf grate secured in a locating and sealing groove of the uppermovable mold half in alignment with a groove of the seal or sealingmeans of the fixed mold half incident to mold closure.

[0030]FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 20-20 of FIG. 12, and illustrates parting surfaces of theupper and lower mold halves between the wire-locating and sealinggrooves thereof at the moment of contact prior to compression of thesilicone seal during further relative closing movement of the moldhalves.

[0031]FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takengenerally along line 21-21 of FIG. 12, and illustrates the completelyclosed condition of the mold with the silicone seal compressed intointimate embracing relationship to an exterior surface of the associatedwire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] A refrigerator R (FIG. 1) includes a fresh food and/or freezercompartment C. The compartment C includes a back or rear wall RW andopposite generally parallel side walls SW1 and SW2, each of whichincludes a plurality of vertically spaced ledges or ribs 10. Oppositeribs 10 project toward each other in associated pairs in a commonhorizontal plane and function to support thereupon a wire shelf 20 ofthe present invention.

[0033] The wire shelf 20 comprises a wire grate 25 and an open,continuous peripheral border, rim or encapsulation 30 formed frominjection molded synthetic thermoplastic/copolymeric material in amanner to be described fully hereinafter.

[0034] The shelf grate 25 is defined by a plurality of substantiallythin, elongated relatively spaced, metallic first members or wires 26which are substantially circular in cross-section and each of whichincludes axially opposite ends or end portions 27. The wires or wiremembers 26 are in substantially parallel relationship to each other andare substantially normal to a plurality of substantially parallelelongated thin second metallic wire members or wires 28, each of whichis substantially circular in cross-section and includes axially oppositeends or end portions 29 (FIG. 4). The wire members 26, 28 are located inprecise spaced relationship to each other, as are the respective ends27, 29 thereof, to assure that the respective ends 27, 29 can beprecisely located relative to and inserted within wire-receiving,sealing and locating cavity portions or grooves of an associated mold,as will be described more fully hereinafter.

[0035] The wire members 26, 28 are preferably welded to each other atall crossing points CP therebetween although the welds need not be madeat each crossing point CP so long as the overall shelf grate 25 isrelatively rigid and the ends 27, 29 of the respective wire members 26,28 are spatially related to each other in exact correspondence to thewire-receiving/locating/sealing cavity portions or grooves of theassociated mold.

[0036] All of the wire members 26 are seated above and upon uppersurfaces (unnumbered) of the wire members 28 to collectively define asubstantially smooth common uniplanar horizontal surface upon whichproducts/articles can be supported in a conventional manner. The precisematerials from which the metal wire members 26, 28 are constructed areof no particular moment, nor are the diameters thereof, throughpreferably the lower wire members 28 are of a larger diameter to impartrigidity to the overlying wire members 26 supported thereupon. The wiremembers 26, 28 are preferably painted a desired color after having beenwelded at the crossing points CP thereof with the color being preferablyidentical to or complementary to the overall color or hue of the border30.

[0037] The continuous, open, peripheral border 30 of syntheticthermoplastic material is defined by a front border portion 31 which issubstantially parallel to a rear border portion 32 and opposite sideborder portions 33, 34 which are parallel to each other and are normalto the front and rear border portions 31, 32, respectively. Outermost ormost remote ones of the wire members 28 are encapsulated by the frontand rear border portions 31, 32, respectively, including the ends 29 ofthe wire members 28 which project beyond the side border portions 33, 34(FIG. 1) and are encapsulated by the thermoplastic material, as is bestillustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. In much the same manner, theoutermost or most remote ones of the wire members 26 are totallyencapsulated each in a respective one of the side border portions 33, 34(FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The axially opposite ends 27 of the remaining wiremembers 26 which are visible in FIG. 1 are encapsulated in the front andrear border portions 31, 32 of the border 20, as is illustrated in FIGS.1 and 3, while the ends 29 of the central wire member 28 are similarlycompletely encapsulated within the side border portions 33, 34 (FIG. 1).

[0038] It is to be particularly noted from FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawingsthat the length of the front and rear border portions 31, 32,respectively, is slightly less than the distance between the rails 10,10 upon which the wire shelf 20 slides (FIG. 1), while the thermoplasticmaterial encapsulated ends 29 project beyond the front and rear borderportions 31, 32, respectively, and ride upon upper surfaces (unnumbered)of the rails or ledges 10, 10 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). The low coefficient offriction of the thermoplastic material encapsulating the ends 29 of thewire members 28 effects the smooth sliding of the ends 29 upon thesurfaces of the rails 10,10, while the lateral dimensioning of the frontand rear border portions 31, 32, respectively, restrain the wire shelf20 against excessive lateral motion, as is most evident from FIG. 4 ofthe drawings.

[0039] The wire shelf 20 is manufactured by first constructing the shelfgrating 25 in the manner described and thereafter in situ molding theborder 20 relative thereto in an injection mold 50 (FIGS. 11 through 14and 18 through 21) which is defined by a steel stationary or fixed moldhalf 51 and a movable steel Class “A” mold half 52. The mold halves 51,52 include respective opposing generally polygonal or rectangularcentral cavity portions 53, 54, respectively; peripherally disposed,aligned and opposing wire member aligning and sealing means 55, 56,respectively; and outboard of the latter respective peripherallyextending continuous border molding cavity portions 57, 58,respectively, into which thermoplastic material is injected in aconventional manner when the mold 50 is closed (FIG. 12). Outerperipheral parting line surfaces 59, 60 (FIGS. 11 and 12) of therespective mold halves 53, 54 are in intimate contact with each otherwhen closed (FIG. 12) and collectively define the outermost periphery(unnumbered) of the peripheral border molding cavity portions 57, 58.When the thermoplastic material is injected into the closed bordermolding cavity portions 57, 58, the parting line surfaces 59, 60, thoughin intimate contact with each other, impart a so-called parting line PL(FIGS. 2, 3,12 and 16) to the entire outer periphery of the border 30which, though not readily discernable, is nonetheless visible andevident, particularly upon close examination. The outer peripheralparting line PL at the front border portion 31 (FIG. 3) and the rearborder portion 32 (FIG. 16) is virtually indiscernible because of itslocation, as is also true of the outer peripheral parting line PL alongthe side border portions 33, 34 which, obviously, cannot be seen whenthe shelf 20 is installed in the compartment C (FIG. 1). However, ofmajor concern is an inboard peripheral parting line PL_(W) (FIGS. 15 and17) along the entire inner peripheral surface (unnumbered) of the border30 which must be maintained as indiscernible as possible thoughrecognizing that total elimination thereof is impossible and isacerbated by the closure of the mold halves 51, 52 at the opposing wiremember locating and sealing means 55, 56 of the respective mold halves51, 52.

[0040] As is best illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 18 through 21,the wire member locating and sealing means 56 of the movable mold half52 includes a plurality of downwardly opening wire member receiving,locating and sealing cavities 61, each spaced an axial distance fromeach other corresponding to the axial distance between adjacent wiremembers 26 such that the exterior surface (unnumbered) of each wiremember 26 is intimately engaged and sealed by the surface of anassociated groove or cavity 61 (FIGS. 19 through 21). Furthermore, eachwire member sealing cavity 61 defines an arc of substantially 150° (FIG.19) which is equally foreshortened relative to the 180° upper one-halfsurface of each wire member 26 by 15 degrees at each side thereof (FIG.19). The latter relationship assures that upon the insertion of theshelf grate 25 into the mold half 52 of the open mold 50 (FIG. 11), eachof the wire members 26 will seat intimately into an associated wiremember locating and sealing cavity portion 61 and is retained therein byconventional magnets (not shown) carried by the movable mold half 52.Between adjacent wire member sealing cavities 61 there is a surface 62(FIGS. 14 and 19 through 21) with all of the surfaces 62 lying in acommon plane CP_(m) of the movable mold half 52 which in the fullyclosed position (FIG. 21) of the mold 50 bears against a sealing surface72 between upwardly opening wire member-receiving cavity portions orgrooves 73 of the wire member locating and sealing means 55 which ispreferably one or a plurality of silicone sealing members borderingsubstantially the entirety of the central cavity portion 53. Each wiremember sealing cavity portion or groove 73 includes a circumferentialsealing surface 74 (FIG. 19) which circumscribes an arc of approximately1600 and terminates at each end in a sealing wall 75, 76. Thesubstantially parallel sealing walls 75, 76 are spaced from each other adistance corresponding substantially to the diameter of the wires 26which permits each wire member 26 to be readily inserted into anassociated cavity portion or groove 73 of the sealing means or sealingmember 55 as the movable mold half 52 moves from the open position(FIGS. 11 and 19) to a partially closed position (FIG. 20) and finallyto the fully closed position (FIGS. 12 and 21). The walls 75, 76 candiverge very slightly (one to three degrees to the vertical), as viewedin FIG. 19 to further assure that the wires 26 will each readily enter asealing cavity portion or groove 73 of the sealing member 55.

[0041] As each wire or wire member 26 progressively enters an associatedsealing groove 73 and moves further downwardly therein during closingmovement of the movable mold half 52, the opposing sealing surfaces 61,74; 62, 72 move toward each other until the surfaces 62, 72 touch (FIG.20), and at this point the sealing member 55 is not compressed and thesurfaces 62, 72 lie in the common plane CP_(M) of the fully open mold 50(FIG. 19). In the position of the mold halves 51, 52 illustrated in FIG.20 there are minute gaps G, G between an exterior surface (unnumbered)of each wire member 26 and the walls 75, 76 of each sealing cavity orgroove 73. However, as the movable mold half 52 moves from the positionshown in FIG. 20 to the position shown in FIG. 21, the sealing member 55compresses and the material thereof adjacent the walls 75, 76 issqueezed in all directions including inwardly to close the gaps G, G, asis illustrated in FIG. 21, at which point the common plane CP_(M)′ isbelow the original common plane CP_(M) but is spaced above a plane P_(A)through the axes (unnumbered) of the wire members 26 (FIGS. 16, 17 and21). The normal distance between the two planes CP_(M) and CP_(M)′ iseffectively the distance the sealing member 55 has been compressed toclose the gaps G (FIG. 20) associated with each of the wires or wiremembers 26. Though not perhaps entirely closed, the gaps G, G of FIG. 20are closed sufficiently when the mold 50 is completely closed (FIG. 21)such that not only is the parting line PL_(W) (FIGS. 15 and 17)substantially indiscernible, but little if any flash is evident at theareas of the closed gaps G, G. Thus, the Class “A” finish of an upperperipheral surface US of the border 30 set-off between the parting linesPL, PL_(W), the virtual indiscernible nature of the parting lines PL,PL_(W), and the minimization of flash in the areas of the substantiallyclosed gaps G, G (FIG. 21) collectively create a wire shelf 20 having anoverall appearance from above which is of superior aesthetic qualities,particularly surface shine, smoothness, consistency and overall superiorappearance.

[0042] It is to be understood that the description just presented withrespect to the in situ injection molded encapsulation of the border 30has been described predominantly with respect to the wire members 26 andthe relationship thereof to the front and rear border portions 31, 32,respectively. However, the centermost wire member 28 (FIG. 1) islikewise identically encapsulated with respect to the side borderportions 33, 34 in association with correspondingly dimensioned andstructurally and functionally related wire member locating, aligning andsealing cavity portions or grooves 61, 73 of respective sealing means55, 56 during the forming of the side border portions 33, 34. Therefore,during the in situ injection molding of the border 30, all wires or wiremembers 26, 28 which are exposed in FIG. 1 are located in and are sealedrelative to opposing sealing cavity portions or grooves 61, 73 of therespective sealing means or sealing members 55, 56 of the respectivemold halves 51, 52 upon the closing thereof and the subsequent in situinjection molding of the continuous border 30 relative to the associatedwire members 26, 28. Obviously, the ends 29 of the wire members 28totally encapsulated in the front and rear border portions 31, 32,respectively, are housed in opposing substantially semi-cylindricalcorner cavity portions 79, 89 (FIGS. 13 and 18, respectively) of therespective mold halves 51, 52 which in the closed position of the mold50 define a closed ended cylindrical cavity to encapsulate the ends 29thereof.

[0043] Another wire shelf constructed in accordance with the inventionis illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings and is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 120.

[0044] The wire shelf 120 is constructed substantially in the samemanner as the wire shelf 20 of FIG. 1 and includes a substantiallyidentical shelf grate 125 and an open, continuous injection moldedencapsulation, border or rim 130 defined by a front border portion 131,a rear border portion 132, and opposite side border portions 133, 134.The shelf grate 125 includes metal wire members or wires 126, 128 weldedat cross points CP′ and having all ends thereof encapsulated within theborder 130. However, as compared to the wire shelf 20 of FIG. 1, thewire shelf 120 of FIGS. 5 and 6 is not slidable with respect to arefrigerator compartment C′, but is instead capable of being adjustedvertically therein in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,145granted on Nov. 8, 1994, particularly FIGS. 1 and 5 thereof, thedescription of which is incorporated hereat by reference. Morespecifically, a pair of metal cantilever shelf brackets 80, 80 are eachprovided along an upper edge with a flange 81 (FIG. 6) having aplurality of openings 82 therealong. A rear edge (unnumbered) of eachbracket 80 includes a pair of hooks 83 which are received in verticallyspaced slots S of conventional vertically disposed substantiallyparallel shelf tracks ST secured to a rear wall RW′ of the compartmentC′ of a refrigerator R′. The flanges 81 of the opposite cantileveredshelf brackets 80 are in opposing relationship to each other and arepositioned in a mold similar to the mold 50 except the lower fixed moldbody 51 has separate segments, preferably a central and two sidesegments, which when open receive the shelf brackets 80 and when closedretain the same with the flanges 81 thereof adjacent but slightly spacedfrom (FIG. 6) or touching (FIG. 6a) the three wire members 128, two ofwhich are not illustrated but one is encapsulated within each of thefront and rear border portions 131, 132, respectively. A mold such asthat disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,493 is exemplary of the type ofmold which could be utilized to manufacture the wire shelf 120. When thecorresponding mold just described is closed and hotpolymeric/copolymeric plastic material is injected into thecorresponding annular mold cavity, as would be defined by closing theborder mold cavity portions 57, 58 of the mold 50, the border 130encapsulates and unitizes the shelf grate 125 to the flanges 81 of thecantilevered shelf brackets 80 in the manner apparent from FIGS. 6 and6a of the drawings. Therefore, instead of being slidable in the mannerof the wire shelf 20 with respect to the compartment C, the wire shelf120 is cantilevered relative to the compartment C′ and is verticallyadjustable relative thereto in a conventional manner by suitablyselectively hooking the hooks 83 in selected slots S of the shelf tracksST.

[0045] Another wire shelf constructed in accordance with the inventionis illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings and is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 220. Components of the wire shelf220 which are identical to the wire shelf 20 of FIG. 1 have beenidentically numbered but are each preceded by 200.

[0046] As is the case of the wire shelf 20, the wire shelf 220 is also asliding shelf, and is essentially manufactured in substantially the samemanner as heretofore described with respect to the latter two shelvesand includes a shelf grate 225 defined by wire members or wires 226, 228having ends thereof or being entirely encapsulated by an injectionmolded, open, peripheral encapsulation, rim or border 230 defined bysubstantially parallel front and rear border portions 231, 232,respectively, and opposite substantially parallel side border portions233, 234. Each of the side border portions 233, 234 of the border 230 isprovided with a relatively elongated outwardly opening substantiallyV-shaped groove 90 defined by angularly outwardly diverging walls 91, 92(FIG. 8). A metal cantilevered bracket 95 is in sliding relationshipwith each of the side border portions 233, 234 through a rib 96 definedby longitudinally extending walls 97, 98 which are angled complementaryto and slide relative along the surfaces 91, 92, respectively, of thegroove 90. Therefore, in accordance with this embodiment of theinvention, the wire shelf 220 can slide relative to the pair of brackets95, 95 and can be step-wise adjusted vertically utilizing hooks 283, 283in the manner heretofore described with respect to the shelf 120 ofFIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings and the similarly slidable and verticallystep-wise adjustable shelf of FIGS. 2 and 6 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,145,the latter details of which are herein incorporated by reference,including the utilization of a pair of cross braces CB1, CB2 spanningbetween and welded to the brackets 95, 95 to impart rigidity thereto andpermit the same to be simultaneously step-wise adjusted.

[0047] Another wire shelf 320 constructed in accordance with thisinvention is generally similar to the shelves heretofore described andis manufactured in much the same manner and, therefore, includesidentical reference characters reflective of identical structure and/orfunction and therefore preceded by 300. The wire shelf 320 of FIGS. 9and 10 includes a shelf grate 325 peripherally encapsulated by aninjection molded encapsulation border or rim 330 having front and rearborder portions 331, 332, respectively, and substantially parallel sideborder portions 333, 334, the latter of which each is unitized throughthe in situ encapsulation 320 to an upper wire W_(U) (FIG. 10) of a wirebracket WB which preferably corresponds to the cantilever wire bracketsand cross braces associated therewith of FIG. 39 of U.S. Pat. No.5,441,338 granted on Aug. 15, 1995 which is incorporated hereat byreference. However, as compared to the latter disclosure, the wire shelf320 is not slidable but instead can only be step-wise adjusted. Thoughthe encapsulation of the upper wires W_(U) offers reasonable rigidity tothe overall wire shelf 320, even absent cross braces between and weldedto the wire cantilevered brackets WB, such cross braces can be utilized.Added thereto or in lieu thereof, the ends of the wire members or wires328 not only rest upon the upper wires W_(U) of each cantilever wirebracket W_(B), but can be welded thereto (FIG. 10).

[0048] Though each of the shelves is disclosed in association with acompartment of a refrigerator, it is to be understood that the shelvesare equally adapted for use in any environment in which product/articlesof different heights, sizes and weights are stored, either short term orlong, and may require accessibility. For example, the wire shelf 20 isparticularly adapted for utilization in a chamber of a microwave oven.Typically, microwave ovens utilize metal wire racks, shelves or grateswith are supported at corners thereof by wire ends or legs which restupon plastic or similar nonconductive supports which are in turnsupported by metallic walls of the microwave oven compartment. It is notuncommon for the wire legs to become dislodged from the electricallynonconductive supports and touch or become so closely spaced to themetal walls of the microwave oven compartment so as to cause electricalarcing or current flow which typically produces burn spots and canactually produce holes in the area of the arcing. The wire shelf 20eliminates the latter problem because the ends 29 of the wires 28projecting endwise from the front and rear border portions 31, 32,respectively, are coated with the nonconductive syntheticcopolymeric/polymeric plastic material and can rest directly uponmetallic ledges, ridges or rails of the microwave oven compartment sidewalls exactly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 absent undesiredelectrical arc-over or arcing.

[0049] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat minor variations may be made in the apparatus without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shelf comprising a plurality of substantiallythin elongated relatively spaced first members, at least onesubstantially thin elongated second member in transverse crossingrelationship to said plurality of thin elongated first members, and acontinuous open peripheral border of molded synthetic thermoplasticmaterial encapsulating ends of said first and second members.
 2. Theshelf as defined in claim 1 wherein said border is a single piece ofsynthetic plastic material molded into encapsulating relationship tosaid first and second member ends.
 3. The shelf as defined in claim 1including at least another substantially thin elongated second memberdisposed in substantially parallel relationship to said at least onethin elongated second member.
 4. The shelf as defined in claim 1including at least another substantially thin elongated second memberdisposed in substantially parallel relationship to said at least onethin elongated second member, and said another thin elongated secondmember includes ends encapsulated by said continuous open peripheralborder.
 5. The shelf as defined in claim 1 wherein said thin elongatedsecond member is substantially entirely encapsulated by said continuousopen peripheral border.
 6. The shelf as defined in claim 1 including atleast another substantially thin elongated second member disposed insubstantially parallel relationship to said at least one thin elongatedsecond member, and each of said thin elongated one and another secondmembers being substantially entirely encapsulated by border portions ofsaid continuous open peripheral border.
 7. The shelf as defined in claim1 including at least another substantially thin elongated second memberdisposed in substantially parallel relationship to said at least onethin elongated second member, one of said thin elongated one and anothersecond members being substantially entirely encapsulated by a borderportion of said continuous open peripheral border, and the other of saidthin elongated one and another second members is substantially devoid ofthermoplastic encapsulating material between the ends thereof
 8. Theshelf as defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous open peripheralborder includes opposite substantially parallel border portions eachdefined in part by inboard and outboard surfaces, said at least one thinelongated second member is substantially encapsulated between inboardand outboard surfaces of one of said border portions, and ends of saidplurality of thin elongated first members are encapsulated in said oneborder portion between the inboard and outboard surfaces thereof.
 9. Theshelf as defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous open peripheralborder includes opposite substantially parallel border portions eachdefined in part by inboard and outboard surfaces, said at least one thinelongated second member is substantially encapsulated between inboardand outboard surfaces of one of said border portions, ends of saidplurality of thin elongated first members are encapsulated in said oneborder portion between the inboard and outboard surfaces thereof, andends of said at least one thin elongated member project beyond oppositeends of said one border portion.
 10. The shelf as defined in claim 1wherein said continuous open peripheral border includes oppositesubstantially parallel border portions each defined in part by inboardand outboard surfaces, said at least one thin elongated second member issubstantially encapsulated between inboard and outboard surfaces of oneof said border portions, ends of said plurality of thin elongated firstmembers are encapsulated in said one border portion between the inboardand outboard surfaces thereof, and ends of said at least one thinelongated member project beyond opposite ends of said one border portionand are encapsulated by the thermoplastic material.
 11. The shelf asdefined in claim 1 including at least another and a furthersubstantially thin elongated second member each disposed insubstantially parallel spaced relationship to said at least one thinelongated second member.
 12. The shelf as defined in claim 1 includingat least another and a further substantially thin elongated secondmember each disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship tosaid at least one thin elongated second member, and said another andfurther thin elongated second members having ends encapsulated by saidcontinuous open peripheral border.
 13. The shelf as defined in claim 1including at least another and a further substantially thin elongatedsecond member each disposed in substantially parallel spacedrelationship to said at least one thin elongated second member, saidanother and further thin elongated second members having endsencapsulated by said continuous open peripheral border; and at least twoof said one, another and further thin elongated second members beingsubstantially encapsulated by said continuous open peripheral border.14. The shelf as defined in claim 1 including at least another and afurther substantially thin elongated second member each disposed insubstantially parallel spaced relationship to said at least one thinelongated second member, said another and further thin elongated secondmembers having ends encapsulated by said continuous open peripheralborder; at least two of said one, another and further thin elongatedsecond members being substantially encapsulated by said continuous openperipheral border; and the remaining one of said one, another andfurther thin elongated second members being substantially devoid ofthermoplastic encapsulating material between the ends thereof.
 15. Ashelf comprising a substantially continuous open peripheral borderformed of in situ molded synthetic thermoplastic material, saidcontinuous open peripheral border having an upper surface possessingsuperior surface characteristics as compared to a lower surface thereof,a parting line along a peripheral surface of said continuous peripheralborder defining a line of demarcation between said upper and lowersurfaces, said parting line lying in a substantially common plane, aplurality of substantially thin elongated members each having an axisand opposite ends, said opposite ends being encapsulated by saidcontinuous open peripheral border, and in a substantially horizontalposition of use of said shelf said parting line plane being disposedabove a plane through said thin elongated member axes whereby thesuperior surface characteristics of the continuous open peripheralborder are aesthetically presented to a viewer of the shelf.
 16. Theshelf as defined in claim 15 including at least one substantially thinelongated second member in underlying crossing supporting relationshipto said first-mentioned plurality of thin elongated members.
 17. Theshelf as defined in claim 16 including means for securing said one andsecond thin elongated members to each other at least at selectivecrossing points thereof.
 18. The shelf as defined in claim 15 includingat least one substantially thin elongated second member in underlyingcrossing supporting relationship to said first-mentioned plurality ofthin elongated members, and ends of said second member beingencapsulated by said continuous open peripheral border.
 19. The shelf asdefined in claim 18 including means for securing said one and secondmembers to each other at least at selective crossing points thereof. 20.A shelf comprising a substantially continuous open peripheral borderformed of in situ molded synthetic thermoplastic material, saidcontinuous open peripheral border being defined by at least a pair ofside border portions in substantially spaced parallel relationship toeach other and substantially normal to a front border portion, a pair ofsubstantially thin elongated first members each having opposite ends,said pair of thin elongated first members being in substantially spacedparallel relationship to each other, a plurality of substantially thinelongated second members having opposite ends in overlying relationshipto and being supported by said elongated first members, means forsecuring said thin elongated second member ends to associated ones ofsaid thin elongated first members, said thin elongated first members andsaid thin elongated second member ends being substantially entirelyencapsulated by substantially parallel side border portions of said insitu molded thermoplastic material border, and means at a rear side ofsaid shelf remote from said front border portion for securing said shelfto an associated vertical support.
 21. The shelf as defined in claim 20wherein said securing means is defined by a rear end of each thinelongated first member projecting rearward beyond its associated sideborder portion.
 22. The shelf as defined in claim 20 wherein saidsecuring means is defined by a hook at a rear end of each thin elongatedfirst member projecting rearward beyond its associated side borderportion.
 23. The shelf as defined in claim 20 wherein said continuousopen peripheral border has an upper surface possessing superior surfacecharacteristics as compared to a lower surface thereof, a parting linealong a peripheral surface of said continuous open peripheral borderdefining a line of demarcation between said upper and lower surfaces,said parting line lying in a substantially common plane, said pluralityof substantially thin elongated second members each having an axis, andin a substantially horizontal position of use of said shelf said partingline plane is disposed above a plane through said thin elongated secondmember axes whereby the superior surface characteristics of thecontinuous open peripheral border are aesthtically presented to a viewerof the shelf.
 24. The shelf as defined in claim 20 including a thirdsubstantially thin elongated member extending downwardly and rearwardlyaway from a front end of each first thin elongated member and havingmeans at a rear end thereof for securing said shelf to an associatedvertical support.
 25. The shelf as defined in claim 23 wherein saidsecuring means is defined by a rear end of each thin elongated firstmember projecting rearward beyond its associated side border portion.26. The shelf as defined in claim 23 wherein said securing means isdefined by a hook at a rear end of each thin elongated first memberprojecting rearward beyond its associated side border portion.
 27. Theshelf as defined in claim 23 including a third substantially thinelongated member extending downwardly and rearwardly away from a frontend of each first thin elongated member and having means at a rear endthereof for securing said shelf to an associated vertical support.
 28. Ashelf comprising a plurality of substantially thin elongated relativelyspaced first members disposed in substantially parallel relationship toeach other, each of said thin elongated first members having oppositeends, a pair of substantially thin elongated relatively spaced secondmembers disposed in substantially parallel relationship to each other,each of said thin elongated second members having opposite ends, saidthin elongated first and second members being in crossing relationshipto each other with said thin elongated first members being above saidthin elongated second members, means for securing said thin elongatedfirst and second members to each other at crossing points thereof, acontinuous open peripheral border of molded synthetic thermoplasticmaterial encapsulating the ends of said thin elongated first and secondmembers, said pair of thin elongated second members being eachsubstantially encapsulated by said synthetic thermoplastic material, andsaid thin elongated first members being substantially devoid of saidsynthetic thermoplastic material between the ends thereof.
 29. The shelfas defined in claim 28 including at least another substantially thinelongated second member disposed in substantially parallel relationshipto said at least one thin elongated second member.
 30. The shelf asdefined in claim 28 including at least another substantially thinelongated second member disposed in substantially parallel relationshipto said pari of thin elongated second members, and said another thinelongated second member being substantially devoid of said syntheticthermoplastic material between ends thereof.
 31. The shelf as defined inclaim 28 including at least another substantially thin elongated secondmember disposed between and in substantially parallel relationship tosaid pair of thin elongated second members, and said another thinelongated second member being substantially devoid of said syntheticthermoplastic material between ends thereof.
 32. The shelf as defined inclaim 28 wherein said continuous open peripheral border has an uppersurface possessing superior surface characteristics as compared to alower surface thereof, a parting line along a peripheral surface of saidcontinuous open peripheral border defining a line of demarcation betweensaid upper and lower surfaces, said parting line lying in asubstantially common plane, said thin elongated first members eachhaving an axis, and in a substantially horizontal position of use ofsaid shelf said parting line plane is disposed above a plane throughsaid thin elongated first member axes whereby the superior surfacecharacteristics of the continuous open peripheral border areaesthetically presented to a viewer of the shelf.
 33. A shelf comprisinga plurality of substantially thin elongated relatively spaced firstmembers disposed in substantially parallel relationship to each other,each of said thin elongated first members having opposite ends, a pairof substantially thin elongated relatively spaced second membersdisposed in substantially parallel relationship to each other, each ofsaid thin elongated second members having opposite ends, said thinelongated first and second members being in crossing relationship toeach other with said thin elongated first members being above said thinelongated second members, means for securing said thin elongated firstand second members to each other at crossing points thereof, acontinuous open peripheral border of molded synthetic thermoplasticmaterial encapsulating the ends of said thin elongated first members,said continuous open peripheral border includes opposite substantiallyparallel border portions each defined in part by inboard and outboardsurfaces, one of said pair of thin elongated second members beingsubstantially encapsulated by one of said parallel border portionsexcept for axially opposite ends thereof each of which project beyond anoutboard surface of an associated border portion, and said thinelongated first members being substantially devoid of said syntheticthermoplastic material between the ends thereof.
 34. The shelf asdefined in claim 33 including at least another substantially thinelongated second member disposed in substantially parallel relationshipto said at least one thin elongated second member.
 35. The shelf asdefined in claim 33 including at least another substantially thinelongated second member disposed in substantially parallel relationshipto said pari of thin elongated second members, and said another thinelongated second member being substantially devoid of said syntheticthermoplastic material between ends thereof.
 36. The shelf as defined inclaim 33 including at least another substantially thin elongated secondmember disposed between and in substantially parallel relationship tosaid pair of thin elongated second members, and said another thinelongated second member being substantially devoid of said syntheticthermoplastic material between ends thereof.
 37. A shelf comprising aplurality of substantially thin elongated relatively spaced firstmembers disposed in substantially parallel relationship to each other,each of said thin elongated first members having opposite ends, a pairof substantially thin elongated relatively spaced second membersdisposed in substantially parallel relationship to each other, each ofsaid thin elongated second members having opposite ends, said thinelongated first and second members being in crossing relationship toeach other with said thin elongated first members being above said thinelongated second members, means for securing said thin elongated firstand second members to each other at crossing points thereof, acontinuous open peripheral border of molded synthetic thermoplasticmaterial encapsulating the ends of said thin elongated first members,said continuous open peripheral border includes opposite substantiallyparallel border portions each defined in part by inboard and outboardsurfaces, one of said pair of thin elongated second members beingsubstantially encapsulated by one of said parallel border portionsincluding axially opposite ends thereof each of which project beyond anoutboard surface of an associated border portion, and said thinelongated first members being substantially devoid of said syntheticthermoplastic material between the ends thereof.
 38. The shelf asdefined in claim 37 including at least another substantially thinelongated second member disposed in substantially parallel relationshipto said at least one thin elongated second member.
 39. The shelf asdefined in claim 37 including at least another substantially thinelongated second member disposed in substantially parallel relationshipto said pari of thin elongated second members, and said another thinelongated second member being substantially devoid of said syntheticthermoplastic material between ends thereof.
 40. The shelf as defined inclaim 37 including at least another substantially thin elongated secondmember disposed between and in substantially parallel relationship tosaid pair of thin elongated second members, and said another thinelongated second member being substantially devoid of said syntheticthermoplastic material between ends thereof.
 41. A shelf comprising atleast two spaced substantially parallel side border portions formed ofin situ molded synthetic thermoplastic material, a shelf grate definedby a plurality of first and second substantially thin elongated firstand second members disposed in relative crossing relationship to eachother, means for securing at least selective crossing pairs of said thinelongated first and second members to each other at crossing areasthereof, a pair of spaced substantially parallel side shelf-mountingbrackets, each side shelf-mounting bracket having an upper edge, andeach side border portion being in in situ encapsulating relationship toan upper edge of one of said side shelf-mounting brackets and a sideedge of said shelf grate whereby said border portions, shelf grate andshelf-mounting brackets define a unitized construction.
 42. The shelf asdefined in claim 41 including means for welding each shelf-mountingbracket upper edge to an associated shelf grate side edge.
 43. The shelfas defined in claim 41 wherein each shelf-mounting bracket upper edgeincludes a flange, and means for welding each shelf-mounting bracketflange to an associated shelf grate side edge.
 44. The shelf as definedin claim 41 wherein each side shelf-mounting bracket upper edge isdefined by a relatively thin elongated wire member encapsulatedsubstantially entirely within its associated side border portion. 45.The shelf as defined in claim 41 wherein each side shelf-mountingbracket upper edge is defined by a relatively thin elongated wire memberencapsulated substantially entirely within its associated side borderportion, and means for welding each thin elongated wire member to anassociated shelf grate side edge.
 46. The shelf as defined in claim 41wherein said thin elongated first members are in substantially normalrelationship to said side border portions, said thin elongated firstmembers have axially opposite ends, and means for welding said ends toan associated shelf-mounting bracket upper edge.
 47. The shelf asdefined in claim 41 wherein said thin elongated second members are insubstantially parallel relationship to said side border portions, andmeans for welding said thin elongated second members to an associatedshelf-mounting bracket upper edge.
 48. A shelf comprising at least twospaced substantially parallel side border portions formed of in situmolded synthetic thermoplastic material, a shelf grate defined by aplurality of first and second substantially thin elongated first andsecond members disposed in relative crossing relationship to each other,means securing at least selective crossing pairs of said thin elongatedfirst and second members to each other at crossing areas thereof, a pairof spaced substantially parallel side shelf-mounting brackets, each sideshelf-mounting bracket having an upper edge, and each side borderportion being in sliding relationship to an upper edge of one of saidside shelf-mounting brackets and in situ encapsulating relationship to aside edge of said shelf grate whereby said border portions and shelfgrate can slide in unison relative to said shelf-mounting bracketsdefine a sliding construction.
 49. The shelf as defined in claim 48wherein opposite ends of at least one of said plurality of thinelongated first and second members are encapsulated by said side borderportions.
 50. The shelf as defined in claim 48 wherein at least one ofsaid plurality of thin elongated first and second members issubstantially entirely encapsulated by an associated side borderportion.
 51. The shelf as defined in claim 48 wherein opposite ends ofat least one of said plurality of thin elongated first and secondmembers are encapsulated by said side border portions, and at least oneof said plurality of thin elongated first and second members issubstantially entirely encapsulated by an associated side borderportion.
 52. The shelf as defined in claim 48 including substantiallyspaced parallel front and rear border portions between ends of said sideborder portions and defined therewith an in situ molded continuous openperipheral border.
 53. The shelf as defined in claim 49 includingsubstantially spaced parallel front and rear border portions betweenends of said side border portions and defined therewith an in situmolded continuous open peripheral border.
 54. The shelf as defined inclaim 50 including substantially spaced parallel front and rear borderportions between ends of said side border portions and defined therewithan in situ molded continuous open peripheral border.
 55. The shelf asdefined in claim 51 including substantially spaced parallel front andrear border portions between ends of said side border portions anddefined therewith an in situ molded continuous open peripheral border.56. A shelf structure comprising a pair of opposing substantiallyhorizontally aligned slide surfaces, said sliding surfaces have adjacentsurfaces spaced a predetermined distance from each other, a shelfdefined by a plurality of wires and at least a pair of side borderportions of synthetic thermoplastic material, said side border portionseach having an outermost side surface spaced from each other a distancecorresponding substantially to said predetermined distance whereby therelative close spacing between said adjacent surfaces and said outermostside surfaces prevent excessive lateral shifting of said shelf relativeto said slide surfaces, and ends of selected ones of said plurality ofwires slide atop said slide surfaces.
 57. The shelf structure as definedin claim 56 wherein said selected ones ends are encapsulated by saidsynthetic thermoplastic material.
 58. The shelf structure as defined inclaim 56 wherein said side border portions are in situ molded to saidwires.
 59. The shelf structure as defined in claim 56 wherein said sideborder portions in part define a continuous open border.
 60. The shelfstructure as defined in claim 57 wherein said side border portions arein situ molded to said wires.
 61. The shelf structure as defined inclaim 57 wherein said side border portions in part define a continuousopen border.
 62. The shelf structure as defined in claim 58 wherein saidside border portions in part define a continuous open border.